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Tag: Efunkoya

  • Coaching clinic kickstarts  Efunkoya Table Tennis Tournament

    Coaching clinic kickstarts  Efunkoya Table Tennis Tournament

    Young table tennis talents from across Nigeria will undergo an intensive two-day coaching clinic to kick off the 6th  edition of the annual Adegboyega Efunkoya National Cadet Table Tennis Championships, scheduled to run from Tuesday, August 12 to Saturday, 16 at the National Stadium and Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

    Organised by the Efunkoya Sports Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the U-15 tournament aims to discover and nurture young talents through modern coaching techniques and competitive play. The participants are expected to emerge from states and clubs across the country.

    Over the years, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to outstanding athletes from the tournament, with several now representing Nigeria at senior levels—including Matthew Kuti, the maiden champion of the event.

    According to Ranti Lajide, spokesperson for the Efunkoya Sports Foundation, this year’s theme, “Producing Educated Champions,” reflects the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring athletes pursue education alongside their sporting careers.

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     “We realised that our players need to update their knowledge of the sport because globally, table tennis is becoming more scientific, and Nigeria should not be left behind. We’ve engaged top coaches with expertise in modern table tennis to train the players and guide them through physical exercises, which are essential for any athlete,” Lajide said.

    The coaching clinic will run for two days, followed by the tournament starting on Thursday, August 14, with the finals scheduled for Saturday, August 16. Winners will receive fabulous prizes and educational scholarships to encourage a balance between sports and academics.

    Additionally, quarterfinalists in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will earn automatic qualification for the second edition of the Atanda Musa National Invitational Top 16 Classic.

    In a move toward inclusivity, this year’s tournament will also feature deaf athletes, further highlighting the Foundation’s commitment to equal opportunities in sports.

  • Efunkoya Table Tennis tourney hits knock-out stage

    Efunkoya Table Tennis tourney hits knock-out stage

    The 5th  Efunkoya National Cadet Table Tennis Championship enters  the knockout stage  today at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. 

    Hundreds of players from 17 states and 20 clubs are competing in this annual tournament, organized by the Efunkoya Table Tennis Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).

    According to the foundation’s spokesperson, Ranti Lajide, the referee faced a challenging task screening players, with some over-aged participants being disqualified to allow new talent to shine. Lajide noted that the quality of players in the boys’ event suggests the emergence of new champions this year.

    “We are excited that states and clubs are now focusing on grooming female players, which has been a major concern for the foundation as many national players are ageing. We have more girls participating this year, and we hope to discover new stars who will succeed the older players,” Lajide said.

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    The tournament features five titles: singles (boys and girls), doubles (boys and girls), and mixed doubles. Funded by former players and table tennis enthusiasts from both within and outside Nigeria, the event will see the doubles and mixed doubles events take centre stage as it reaches its climax on Saturday, August 24.

    “We are pleased with the turnout and believe this aligns with the tournament’s goal of nurturing new stars. We will continue to promote education alongside sports, which is the foundation’s core mission,” Lajide added.

    The foundation, comprising former players and stakeholders, is dedicated to revitalizing the sport. The late Dr. Adegboyega Efunkoya, a surgeon and medical practitioner, began his involvement in table tennis administration in 1962 and was elected Chairman of the then Nigeria Table Tennis Association in 1963.

  • Record entries for 4th Efunkoya Table Tennis Championship

    Record entries for 4th Efunkoya Table Tennis Championship

    For the first since its inception, the annual Dr. A. A. Efunkoya Cadet Table Tennis Championship witnessed record entries as over 170 players will feature in the 4th  edition which kicks off today at the National Stadium in Lagos.

    A two-day clinic which was part of this year’s edition preceded the tournament and it was also well attended by the players from 13 states and 36 clubs across the country.

    From the list of participants released yesterday August 24 by the organisers, 106 boys and 66 girls will compete at the two-day tournament organized by the Dr. A.A. Efunkoya Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).

    According to the tournament referee John Peters, the turnout this year exceeded the previous editions with the largest being 2022 where 64 boys and 37 girls took part but this year with the record entries, some players that failed to meet the registration deadline were allowed to complete their late registration.

    Meanwhile, boys’ defending champion Victor Joseph of Kogi, believes the journey to retain his title may be tough considering the number and quality of players for this year’s edition. “I will try my best to retain my title but I must tell you that it is going to be tough because we have more players that are very good this year and I hope I can bring out my best,” the junior class student of Government Science School, Lokoja said.

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    The organisers said Efunkoya’s strong emphasis on the need for young table tennis players to also focus on their education has inspired them to continue to provide an educational scholarship for each of the winners in the boys’ and girls’ singles categories.

    The annual is being bankrolled for former players and lovers of table tennis within and outside the country.

    The late Efunkoya was a surgeon and medical practitioner, who became involved in the administration of table tennis in 1962 and he was elected the Chairman of the then Nigeria Table Tennis Association in 1963.

  • 4th  Efunkoya Table Tennis tourney  begins

    4th  Efunkoya Table Tennis tourney  begins

    A two-day clinic will today kick-start the 4th  Dr. A. A. Efunkoya Cadet Table Tennis Championship holding at the National Stadium in Lagos.

    The clinic ends tomorrow while the tournament being organised by the Dr A.A. Efunkoya Foundation with the aim of unearthing talents for the country, begins on Friday.

    According to the organisers, the clinic became necessary based on the feedback from the previous editions in order to tune up the players for the two-day tournament on Friday  and Saturday.

    Spokesman of the foundation Ranti Lajide said the essence of the clinic was to unearth young female players for the country.

    “We realized that Egypt continues to dominate the female division at junior and senior levels and we decided to give attention to them with the clinic and we expect every team to bring at least two female players for the clinic  and this is a must for every participating state,” he said.“The  clinic will be handled by a consortium of coaches led by Nosiru Bello who is the national coach.”

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    Athletes from across the country are expected to arrive today ahead of the clinic .

    According to the organisers, the yearly contest has been in line with the ideals of the late Efunkoya, whose era as the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) unearthed stars for the country.

    The organisers said Efunkoya’s strong emphasis on the need for young table tennis players to also focus on their education has inspired them to continue to provide an educational scholarship for each of the winners in the boys’ and girls’ singles categories.

    Meanwhile, the organisers would be providing accommodation and feeding for most of the participants with five titles at stake  including the Singles  (boys and girls),Doubles (boys and girls) and Mixed-doubles events.

    The annual event is being bankrolled  by  former players and lovers of table tennis within and outside the country.

    The late Efunkoya was a surgeon and medical practitioner and was elected the Chairman of the then Nigeria Table Tennis Association in 1963.